►Open burning of landscape waste is permitted between sunup and sundown. It is prohibited on...

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Open burning rules

Key rules and regulations in Washington’s open burning ordinance

►Open burning of landscape waste is permitted between sunup and sundown. It is prohibited on eight holidays, including Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

►Open burning can be done on private property with the consent of the property owner or person in charge of the property.

►A fire must be at least 20 feet away from all nearby structures.

►A fire must be constantly attended by a competent person until it’s extinguished. A water source must be immediately available.

►The fire chief or his authorized agent can order a fire that creates excessive smoke or flying ash to be extinguished.

For the complete ordinance (93.02), go to ci.washington.il.us and click on City Government and Municipal Code.

WASHINGTON — The last thing this tornado-ravaged city needs is a devastating fire.

That’s why Washington Fire Chief Mike Vaughn is asking residents in the area affected by the Nov. 17 tornado to learn the rules and regulations in the city’s open burning ordinance.

“We’re not being insensitive. We understand that people want to clean up after the tornado,” Vaughn said.

“But we want to prevent problems, and we can’t have our volunteer firefighters constantly responding to open burning fires.”

Vaughn emphasized that only landscape waste can be burned in an open fire. Landscape waste means grass clippings, shrubbery cuttings, leaves and tree limbs.

Vaughn said three fire engines were dispatched to a fire Saturday in a tornado-affected neighborhood that included building materials like hardwood flooring and ceramic tiles along with landscape waste.

The engines were on the scene of the smoky blaze for about two hours.

Also Saturday, Vaughn said, there were concerns about a large pile of landscape waste that was being burned in an open basement.

The persons doing the burning were told not be add more to the pile.

“It boils down to this,” Vaughn said. “Burn only landscape waste in small piles and have a water source nearby. A fire must be attended at all times. Don’t burn on windy days, and don’t burn after sunset.”

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog on pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.